Places to stay Nozawa The 1st of December and the first day of Winter in Japan We are waking to a dusting of snow up top at Yamabiko and on the surrounding higher peaks. Checking the web cams and the resort has the snow guns blasting away up there too. With about 20cm expected in the next 24 hours I wonder if they are quietly hoping they may get open on Saturday. It will be a stretch but you never know we may get more than forecast, it has happened before 🙂 Looking ahead and temps will remain reasonably cold up top sitting below 0 degrees most days with snow marks here and there. If planning a ski trip to […]
Rental Property Nozawa
Best Coffee Nozawa Onsen
Best Coffee Nozawa Onsen Getting your morning fix in Nozawa Where is your favourite Coffee in Nozawa? Cold Winter, Hot Coffee or if prefer Hot Chocolate. They kind of go hand in hand and nothing better to warm the soul than a hot brew on a snowy day. For years it was hard to get a good cuppa in Nozawa and I remember people begging us to get a decent coffee Machine. So we did, about 10 Years ago I am guessing, we put it at Nozawa Central and it was the first espresso machine in town. As people’s love of coffee grew in Japan and around the world Nozawa followed and before long there were plenty of places to […]
Shigakogen Open Season 2022
Shigakogen Open Season 2022 Our neighbours have started skiing in Shiga Kogen! Yokoteyama the highest ski resort in the area at nearby Shiga Kogen has officially opened on the 18th of November. The bottom of the resort is at 1750m above Sea Level and the top at a lofty 2305m so they tend to get more snow and colder temps in the early part of the season. Conditions are still marginal and looks like they have been using the Snow guns to make some extra snow but that fall last week was enough to give it the green light. Eager skiers and boarders turned out on mass yesterday to enjoy the sunshine and first tracks for the season. Shigakogen Open […]
Snow Depth Nozawa Onsen
Snow Depth Nozawa Onsen It is amazing what snow depth we get to in Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort in Japan Keep your eye on the road signs in Nozawa The below shot is after the first snowfall of the season a few days ago with about 15cm falling from reports. The above shot is peak season after about 12 meters of snow falling in total. The peak base last year up top was 480cm on the 23rd of February 2022. So that sign sits at about 5 meters above ground level. That’s the equivalent of almost 3 grown adults standing on each others shoulders. So we still have a long way to go but will be interesting to see where […]
Courier Service Nozawa Japan
Courier Service Nozawa Japan The Journey is inevitable. Baggage is optional Have lots of people contacting us asking if can send their bags up to Nozawa when arrive. The Answer is yes! The Courier service mainly handled by a company known as Black Cat or “Kuro Neko” is next level. They will get your bag from A to B in Japan in no time and at a very reasonable cost with pure Japanese efficiency. I once sent a bag from Tokyo at 7pm and it arrived in Nozawa at 9am the next morning. I would have struggled to get it there any quicker myself! It only cost 1500 yen too. All Airports in Japan have a “Takyubin” counter where the […]
Accommodation Nozawa Fire Festival
Accommodation Nozawa Fire Festival The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival Who has seen it? Let us know what you thought it was like. The Fire Festival is a spectacle which needs to be seen to be believed. It is held on January 15th every year to pray for a plentiful harvest, health and good fortune in the coming year. The festival dates back to 1863, and has a rich and colourful history in Nozawa Onsen. During this festival the twenty-five and forty-two year old men from the village play a very important role. An old belief in Japan dictates that, for men, these years are unlucky ages. The men of the Village construct the shaden (shrine) from beech wood on the […]
Nozawa Gondola Open Close
Nozawa Gondola Open Close Thats a wrap for the Gondola for this Green Season in Nozawa Next time you ride it, hopefully the scene will look like this nice and white at the top when you get off. It was a spectacular array of colours in the forest canopy below the Gondola these past weeks. You can still get to the top but need to hike, ride or drive. With the cool weather it is a beautiful time to ride up and cruise down. Have many people asking when will the Ski Resort open? The official planned opening date is for Saturday the 26th of November. Last year we saw a 30th of November opening with some early falls and […]
Nozawa Onsen Main Street
Nozawa Onsen Main Street Main Street Nozawa Onsen Oyu dori The Main Street in Nozawa is pretty special to walk down anytime of year. Most nights between May and November it is like the empty shot and you could throw a bowling ball down the street but not hit a soul. In peak holiday times and most of winter though it comes to life however and the streets are bustling with people coming back from skiing and heading to an Onsen or for a bite to eat. It is a great vibe and probably one thing that makes Nozawa special compared to many other resorts. It has a real heart to the village. Many little shops and restaurants have been […]
スタッフ募集 野沢温泉
スタッフ募集 野沢温泉 Staff Needed Nozawa Onsen 今年のスノーシーズン、野沢温泉で働こう！ English Below 外国から来られるお客様の旅のお手伝いをしながら スキー、スノーボードもできる野沢温泉で働きませんか？ 英語力とスキー、スノーボードのスキルを向上させるチャンスです。 フレンドリーなチームと一緒に、大自然いっぱいの野沢温泉村の生活を楽しみましょう。 12月中旬から3月中旬までのスキーシーズンに向けて、日本人スタッフを募集していますが、 通年でもチームメンバーやマネージャーを募集しています。 現在募集中の職種は ロッジのアシスタントとマネージャー クリーニングチームのマネージャー レンタルスタッフ スキー・スノーボードインストラクター（日本人でなくてもインストラクター経験者であれば可） フロントデスク、ブッキングスタッフ 給与は経験により優遇します。 スタッフ用宿泊施設は野沢温泉の中心部にあり、朝食が提供されます。 個人シーズンパスを購入される場合は半額を補助し、 スキー・スノーボード用具は無料でご利用いただけます。 トレーニングやチーム同士の懇親会もあります。 外国人のお客様との触れ合いに興味があり、スノーライフに情熱を持っている方、 履歴書と写真を team@nozawaholidays.com までお送りください。 事業の詳細はこちらでご覧いただけます https://www.nozawaholidays.com/jobs/ 皆様のご応募をお待ちしております。 Work in Nozawa Onsen for this coming Snow season or longer We have still got a few spots left for the coming winter in the amazing Nozawa Holidays Team. Most positions have now been filled but would really like a few more Japanese Speaking staff to join our international team. So if you are stuck in the daily grind in Tokyo may be time to look at a Ski Change and move the the beautiful village of Nozawa Onsen. A fantastic opportunity for some one wanting to […]
Changes Japan Since Covid
Changes Japan Since Covid Has the world changed since Covid? Sure some things have changed and some stay the same. For many it has been over 2 years since you stepped on Japanese soil and snow and imagine you are excited to be coming back. We are very excited to see you in Nozawa too. To be honest Nozawa itself has not changed a great deal, in the 30 plus years I have been there it has not changed so much. One of the things I like about it 🙂 We have a new Gondola for you, as mentioned in the last post, and there are a few new restaurants about town but that same great hospitality or as Japanese […]